Genova Diagnostics (various) Genova Diagnostics

Alpha Linolenic

Optimal Result: 13 - 80 µmol/L.

Alpha Linoleic Acid is an “essential” fatty acid, meaning that your body cannot make it and you must obtain it from your diet. Alpha Linoleic Acid is by far the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid in most human tissues.

Dietary sources of alpha-linolenic acid include:

Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil
Canola (rapeseed) oil
Soybeans and soybean oil
Pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil
Perilla seed oil
Tofu
Walnuts and walnut oil

Note: Alpha-linolenic acid is not the same as alpha-lipoic acid, an antioxidant that helps the body turn glucose into energy. This can be confusing because both alpha-linolenic acid and alpha-lipoic acid are sometimes abbreviated as ALA.

Further notes:

A modest dietary consumption of ALA (1.2-2g) is recommended
Do not take alpha-linolenic acid supplements if you have prostate cancer or are at high risk for getting prostate cancer (e.g., you have a father or brother with prostate cancer). There is some evidence that alpha-linolenic acid might increase the chance of getting prostate cancer.

Names and Abbreviations of the Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids:

Omega-6 Fatty Acids			Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Linoleic acid	LA	18:2n-6	α-Linolenic acid	ALA	18:3n-3
γ-Linolenic acid	GLA	18:3n-6	Stearadonic acid	SDA	18:4n-3
Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid	DGLA	20:3n-6	Eicosatetraienoic acid	ETA	20:4n-3
Arachidonic acid	AA	20:4n-6	Eicosapentaenoic acid	EPA	20:5n-3
Adrenic acid		22:4n-6	Docosapentaenoic acid	DPA (n-3)	22:5n-3
Tetracosatetraenoic acid		24:4n-6	Tetracosapentaenoic acid		24:5n-3
Tetracosapentaienoic acid		24:5n-6	Tetracosahexaenoic acid		24:6n-3
Docosapentaenoic acid	DPA (n-6)	22:5n-6	Docosahexaenoic acid	DHA	22:6n-3

References:

What does it mean if your Alpha Linolenic result is too low?

One of the most common essential fatty acid deficiencies is that of alpha linolenic acid.

Alpha Linolenic Acid may be converted into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a longer fatty acid that is involved in regulation of inflammatory processes and prevention of platelet “stickiness.” Diminished platelet stickiness reduces the blood clotting that can lead to heart attack or stroke. Your body can make the other polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids from ALA. However, many things can interfere with this process including zinc deficiency, alcohol, obesity, and aging.

Severe deficiency in omega-3 intake pointed by numerous epidemiologic studies may increase the brain’s vulnerability representing an important risk factor in the development and/or deterioration of certain cardio- and neuropathologies.

Some signs of alpha-linolenic acid deficiency include:

Loss of motor coordination
Tingling in the extremities
Vision impairment
Behavioral changes.

What does it mean if your Alpha Linolenic result is too high?

Elevated serum alpha-linolenic acid levels are associated with decreased chance of pregnancy after in vitro fertilization
While omega-3 fatty acids have numerous benefits and clinical indications, as with any nutraceutical, caution should be exercised to avoid adverse reactions, and careful patient selection should be employed.
The cardioprotective effects of higher ALA intakes do not appear to be related to changes in serum lipid profiles. A meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials concluded that ALA supplementation had no effect on total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, or triglyceride levels.

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